“It definitely gives us confidence,” said Sobeck, who had an eagle at the par 5 seventh to go along with one other birdie. “When we get to regionals, we’ll have the mindset to win it and get our team to state.”

The course is tough. Dodson described it as fitting to the golfer who can handle course management.

It requires lots of irons off the tee.

“Whoever manages it the best is going to have good results,” he said.

Steamboat will send a different team to Rifle on Thursday for a tournament. The team also will play Monday at Bookcliff Golf Course in Grand Junction.